Let the Sun Shine In: 4 Farms Open Doors to Highlight Renewable Energy

You’ve been wondering about that wind mill that went up down the road for a while now.  Or you’ve been curious about those solar panels on the neighbor’s barn that you watched fall into place, piece by piece.  How much did those installations cost?  How much electricity do they provide?  Could you afford to do the same?

Well, now you can get plugged in to the details of renewable energy at a farm near you - without having to peek over the fence. During the month of September, four farms around New York will open their doors to the public for a guided tour of their energy saving stategies and renewable energy systems.

This year’s farm energy field days include something for everyone.  Jan and Ron Bever live off the grid at at Highland Hills Maple Sugar Farm and are eager to show you how to do the same. According to Jan Bever at Highland Hills Maple Sugar Farm, “you can afford renewable energy if you can buy a used car”.  Jan and Ron Bever operate their house, barn and sugar shack entirely off the grid.  They use two Southwest Windpower microturbines that generate 400 watts each and six 120 watt solar panels, along with 12 Trojan T-105 batteries to store the power.  Jan and Ron installed all the systems themselves with the help of their neighbors.  They are planning to harvest 100 gallons of sap next season from their 15 acre sustainably managed sugar bush.  Jan promises you don’t need a lot of money to get started in renewable energy. If you are looking for a do-it-yourself, affordable approach to renewable energy, come meet Jan and Ron!  More info on the farm at https://sites.google.com/site/highlandhillsfarm/

All the field days are free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be served. For specific dates, times, and locations, see below. Please contact Violet Stone at 607-255-9227 or vws7@cornell.edu to register.

The Farm Energy Field Day are sponsored by the Cornell Small Farms Energy Project Team and funded by  Northeast SARE (Sustainable Ag Research and Education).  To learn more about either of these organizations, visit www.smallfarms.cornell.edu or www.nesare.org
Region: Catskills, Delaware County

To register, contact Violet Stone at 607-255-9227 or vws7@cornell.edu